Want a few more examples? Okay. Rather than planting the paper birch (Betula papyrifera) or European white birch (B. pendula) you remember from your home world, try 'Heritage' river birch (B. nigra 'Heritage'). Its bark is just as lovely, but it doesn't get the borers that plague the other two down here. Do rhododendrons wilt and die before your eyes? Substitute French hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). It loves our climate and flaunts gorgeous flowers of blue, purple, pink, rose, or white for many more weeks than a rhodie does. Can't grow delphinium? Try larkspur. This reseeding annual gives you the same shape and flower colors, but it's much easier to grow. And instead of maintaining tuberous begonias on life support throughout the hot summer, grow the lovely and carefree angel-wing begonias. Lots of blooms, little fuss.
My new neighbors from Wisconsin desperately need this advice, but we don't know how to approach them. We saw them having brats and beer for breakfast, and we're very much afraid.
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